I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

Hi Guys, just checking in. So its nearly 4 months and during that time its 4 weak days when did smoke but obviously with others.

When I am on my own, I just suck the nicotine mints but the hardest is when someone offers. That is hard because old habits really die hard. I think I can handle it just for one or two ciggs but I cannot let it roll over to the next day otherwise it would really catch me again.

My wife was the last to offer me even though she knows I am giving up. She still wants to do it but that last pack of ciggs always still seem to be around the house somewhere.

Please dont delete this thread as it is really my motivation to keep going?

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

Grumps! Good Morning. Nice to read you (and I mean that).

I do have a nit to pick.

I requested a fuck you and you gave me a fuck off. Now, what to do?

A simple 'fuck you' and I would have moved on with my day. Life, as I know it, would remain the same.

But your 'fuck off' has me scrambling. Fuck off, fuck off....to where? How will I get there and will I see home again. What's the time-frame of an average fuck off? Should I pack light (ensuring, of course, I bring feature flattering outfits that bring-out the color of my eyes)? Or should I pack all (similar to the Clampits of Beverly Hillbilly fame) in the back of a rickety, rusted, pick-up truck?

Finally, does a fuck-off mandate a swan song before I go? A nod and solemn bow? Black tie optional?

Or should I keep it natural and informal, like the miles of dolphins off of Cali now slapping their fins instinctively, and just get the fuck out of Dodge.....

"So long and thanks for all the fish. So sad it had to end like this?"

This stop-smoking stuff is dicey. Complicated.

I'm so happy you're not smoking, Grumps. So happy you're here. So happy you're my pal. Don't disappear. Don't go into a protective crouch. Don't cut and run. We need you here. You've become a big part of of my smoke-free days, the fine fabric of my days, and you always bring-out the color of my eyes.

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

Des Fox -

For me, messy is ok. Messy is great. It's all part of this. It's pulling back the curtain in a safe place.

Why can't an emotive knee get a scrape here? An elbow banged? We all wear our Sunday clothes in real life (loving and supporting our families, paying bills, trying to be decent humans in all our endeavors). So what if some pants get grass stains or torn here? It's the perfect place to romp and roll in the dirt if we want to. There's no disclaimers signed.

You started this thread and it has, literally, saved my life. I remain smoke free because of this thread and the people who populate it. I'm probably past 80 days now (stopped counting) and I feel confident I won't smoke today. Hopefully, I'll wake tomorrow with the same resolve. On and on into the days ahead.

But there are others coming behind who deserve the same shot your thread gave me. Who should be allowed the same ritual of hitting this thread throughout the day. The same priviledge of reading like-minded people and, by doing so, not feel so alone. This thread kept me from isolation. Kept the demon at bay because I did it here with others. We made connections here that filled the isolation where the smokes doth creep to do their insidious destruction.

The people coming behind us now, and those who will continue to come on the future, deserve this oasis in their march to freedom.

Your call, Des Fox. Your thread. My take, let it roll. Bare knuckled, no padded kid gloves. In love, in passion, in messy upheavals. Keep the cart rolling and sometimes tip it over and burn it down. It all evens out. It's all necessary. In my opinion.

I'll take it all. The good, the bad, the ugly. Smooth and scratchy. Lovely and messy. In short, I honor and respect the courage of people being real. No masks. Human. Just short of divine, warts and all.

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

Oddballs! Great to see you. You keep marching-on. You're doing it (despite that ever-present last pack around the house). I admire your resolve, Oddballs. And like you said in an earlier post, if the mints do the job use them (with the caution that they're expensive and addictive as well - damn chemist shop!).

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

Anon 296 - Welcome. Day five clean again is great! It must have been hard to stay clean all that time (and that time you had off the smokes is yours and can never be taken away) with the smoke of your wife and daughter filling your home and blanketing your sheets and clothes. You must be pretty strong.

Thank God you turned it around. We can learn much from you here. Nothing wrong with using the patch to pull away from the cigarettes and get them smaller in the distance with each day you keep them down. It really is, as you write, a matter of life and death.

Glad you're here. Congratulations on Day Five! You have much to be proud of.

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

I shall allow the thread to roll on to its destiney. I just thought a point of direction was needed to let new comers to this thread know that we are about support, not bickering and critising. I will continue to dictate the direction of the thread.. I will be on here more when some health issues are cleared up, soon I hope. DF

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

And speaking of banning smoking in the house, I am about ready to tell the tennants to stay 25 fuckin feet away from their doors when they smoke as I am gettin pretty tired of smelling the disgusting smoke smells eminating from their areas!

If I didn't need the rent so badly, and they had someplace to go, I woulda kicked em out two months ago! But alas, desperate times and all that......

Behind every great fortune, there is a crime ~ Balzac

He was and was not, He was encompassed in the name yet not encompassed in the name, having as yet no name other than the desire to be called by a name.... ~Umberto Eco

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

Now...Back to non-smoking........

OneLOVE! I need some of your expertise.

I can't seem to shake the congestion in my lungs and sinus. I've been chopping-up fresh cloves of garlic and can feel it working, literally burning through the mass. But the results are fleeting. I've slept with cut onions next to my bed (quite the love-repellant to my wife) and cut, squeeze and drink organic lemons mixed with cayanne pepper three times daily and, again, some relief albeit fleeting. I'm even drinking apple cider vinegar because someone on GLP said it was wonderful (I have no experience with Chinese, natural remedies, our family solution to all health problems is to run cold water over it).

In short, would you please bequeath me some of your expertise and recommend some natural avenues I can travel to clear the sinus congestion and the mass in my lungs (and the ever-present cough)?

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

...Thank U...BxMac,I appreciate the support,& I have something more important to strive for now as I was recently blessed w/ the most beautiful grandson (my first) whom I want to see grow up.I want to be around to teach him how to play ball, go fishing, camping,water sports,learn & do all the good,fun & healthy things in life...that he might not experience,if I'm not here...Nothing like a newborn to dramatically change UR outlook & perspective on life....

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

....I had quit nearly two years ago, when I was first diagnosed w/CHF & COPD,along w/an existing heart condition (Arithmia)...it was either quit or die....second hand smoke had never bothered me(wifey & daughter smoke)up until about a month ago when I woke up one morning & just smelled the scent of stale cig. smoke everywhere....on my clothes...on my wife's clothes...on the pillow sheets in every room of the house...after two years, I just had to have me a SMOKE...! OH the F'n horror...I thought I had it licked...I'm on the patch now (day 5)& seem to be O.K. However now I've become a complete tyrant & have banned all smoking in the house...I had no choice, my lungs were shutting down...I'm on o2 & a nebulizer...all in less than one month.

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

Man, Anon (hope to learn your name), that's wonderful news. The birth of a grandson. Congratulations. What a lucky boy to have a Grandpa who's already thinking about playing ball, camping, and the like. He's lucky indeed. So nice. I felt your love across all the miles of wires.

I have a great feeling you're going to be around to see him grow-up and more.

Day Five is so powerful. You're doing it for you and then it ripples out to those you love. We are fortunate men indeed.

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

Now...Back to non-smoking........

OneLOVE! I need some of your expertise.

I can't seem to shake the congestion in my lungs and sinus. I've been chopping-up fresh cloves of garlic and can feel it working, literally burning through the mass. But the results are fleeting. I've slept with cut onions next to my bed (quite the love-repellant to my wife) and cut, squeeze and drink organic lemons mixed with cayanne pepper three times daily and, again, some relief albeit fleeting. I'm even drinking apple cider vinegar because someone on GLP said it was wonderful (I have no experience with Chinese, natural remedies, our family solution to all health problems is to run cold water over it).

In short, would you please bequeath me some of your expertise and recommend some natural avenues I can travel to clear the sinus congestion and the mass in my lungs (and the ever-present cough)?

Thanking you in advance, OneLOVE

Quoting: BxMac

I can tell you what I have done...

Research: where I purchase - vitacostResearch: Things I have taken for lung congestion and coughing. Respiratonic, Sambucol (in the white box), Clear LungsResearch: Fresh ginger tea, crush the ginger, then brew it in a pot of boiling water, research how to do it (right kind of pot to use) add lemon and honey, dries up the mucous.

I hope this helps.

You can also research lung congestion online: try 'natural healing lung congestion' and see what comes up so that you may understand more about what the congestion is, what the causes are (like eating white flour and dairy as well as the years of tar and nicotine in the tissues).

The body will seek to cleanse itself as you go along. The higher the quality of 'herbal foods' you put in it, the more likely you will have a 'healing response' where everything toxic starts coming out. You will know it is a healing response because the day before you feel grrrreat! Than kaboom the next day, coughing and you feel terrible for a few day as all the gook comes out of you. This happens in cycles and you can tell it is a healing crisis cause you feel good mentally and emotionally even though your body is feeling kinda horrible as it detoxes.

One other thing about lung congestion. In Chinese, Aryuvedic and other alternative forms of healing there is a correlation to the emotions and mental attitudes and the dis-ease (lack of ease). Lung congestion is related to suppressed 'tears' - grief. Things you have never quite resolved that brought you sadness and grief. Things you kept over your life, pushing back down rather than having a really good cry.

Coughing is usually related to anger. Not always, but often. Watch what is going on when a cough comes up in that moment. If it is more at night, what were you suppressing emotionally during the day that made you feel frustrated or angry.

Also, in the winter your room might be too dry. Try hot baths with salt and baking soda (lots) nice and steamy before bed. Then get right into bed with lots of covers.

Keeping a journal writing about these things from the past will also help 'dry up' the lungs.

The body can heal it self if we 'feed' it the right nutrients, become conscious of what our symptoms are trying to tell us and love ourselves more.

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

OneLOVE, I read your post again for the seventh time and funny how I skimmed over the "dis-ease" section. Very telling. Action! Keep moving! Dancing as fast as I can, Ma! Off to the store!

Whew, breathe, brother Mac. Breathe.

Well, no store but the heart can provide the healing for the grief and the anger (although, my room is dry, ha) you write of. So telling I jumped over these. Just wanted you to know they weren't missed. Weren't swept-aside.

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

littlemiracles -

Nice to have you here. An exciting time and a new beginning for you. There's some smart, kind, and supportive people on this thread. When you're ready, they'll be here to help. A lot of people with close to two, three, and four months off the toxic sticks. Some good experience with the quit still fresh in our collective memory. In addition, a lot of people with a great amount of time away from the smokes pop-in from time to time.

If time allows, go back over some of the pages here. There's recommendations for using cranberry juice to quell cravings and address the blood sugar drops of withdrawl (not as scary as it sounds), water to flush the toxins out, and CHL provides a link to this guy Carr who has helped many here. A wealth of information in addition to the daily support.

You'll know what to do with the last pack/e-cig decision when it's time.

You're giving yourself a wonderful gift. And if you allow us, we'll be happy to walk with you as you rack-up the days as a non-smoker.

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

Healing thoughts to you DF!

Just received my ecig an hour ago...getting nervous and I little stressed about quitting. I have one pack left and am not sure if I am going to ease into the ecig with the last real ones or just wait until they are gone or start the ecig.

Even thinking about quitting is stressing me out!

Quoting: littlemiracles

Please read these E-books with an open mind and a full heart, they will help you over your fear of quitting....

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

Now...Back to non-smoking........

OneLOVE! I need some of your expertise.

I can't seem to shake the congestion in my lungs and sinus. I've been chopping-up fresh cloves of garlic and can feel it working, literally burning through the mass. But the results are fleeting. I've slept with cut onions next to my bed (quite the love-repellant to my wife) and cut, squeeze and drink organic lemons mixed with cayanne pepper three times daily and, again, some relief albeit fleeting. I'm even drinking apple cider vinegar because someone on GLP said it was wonderful (I have no experience with Chinese, natural remedies, our family solution to all health problems is to run cold water over it).

In short, would you please bequeath me some of your expertise and recommend some natural avenues I can travel to clear the sinus congestion and the mass in my lungs (and the ever-present cough)?

Thanking you in advance, OneLOVE

Quoting: BxMac

I can tell you what I have done...

Research: where I purchase - vitacostResearch: Things I have taken for lung congestion and coughing. Respiratonic, Sambucol (in the white box), Clear LungsResearch: Fresh ginger tea, crush the ginger, then brew it in a pot of boiling water, research how to do it (right kind of pot to use) add lemon and honey, dries up the mucous.

I hope this helps.

You can also research lung congestion online: try 'natural healing lung congestion' and see what comes up so that you may understand more about what the congestion is, what the causes are (like eating white flour and dairy as well as the years of tar and nicotine in the tissues).

The body will seek to cleanse itself as you go along. The higher the quality of 'herbal foods' you put in it, the more likely you will have a 'healing response' where everything toxic starts coming out. You will know it is a healing response because the day before you feel grrrreat! Than kaboom the next day, coughing and you feel terrible for a few day as all the gook comes out of you. This happens in cycles and you can tell it is a healing crisis cause you feel good mentally and emotionally even though your body is feeling kinda horrible as it detoxes.

One other thing about lung congestion. In Chinese, Aryuvedic and other alternative forms of healing there is a correlation to the emotions and mental attitudes and the dis-ease (lack of ease). Lung congestion is related to suppressed 'tears' - grief. Things you have never quite resolved that brought you sadness and grief. Things you kept over your life, pushing back down rather than having a really good cry.

Coughing is usually related to anger. Not always, but often. Watch what is going on when a cough comes up in that moment. If it is more at night, what were you suppressing emotionally during the day that made you feel frustrated or angry.

Also, in the winter your room might be too dry. Try hot baths with salt and baking soda (lots) nice and steamy before bed. Then get right into bed with lots of covers.

Keeping a journal writing about these things from the past will also help 'dry up' the lungs.

The body can heal it self if we 'feed' it the right nutrients, become conscious of what our symptoms are trying to tell us and love ourselves more.

oneLOVE

Quoting: oneLOVEsoulJAH 26915578

Interesting...never heard that one before. I knew it could be a "habit" or a nervous tick...

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

I have done half and half today with the ecig and am continuing to do it with my regular routine of going outside. I think I need to keep that "break time" as part of it to be sucessful.

Quoting: littlemiracles

The point is my dear, you have started a process. Now you must adjust and modify it to reach your goal of getting off cigarettes. If within a period of time you are 100% off smokes, you win. Next, as you know, the e-cigs have to fade away too in order to claim to be nicotine free. Great luck to you. DF

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

littlemiracles - Seems you took off like a rocket. 50/50 split on the day after receiving the e-cig is pretty damn impressive. Good idea to go outside with the e-cig. Make it as inconvenient as it was to smoke (don't want to simply switch seats on the Titanic).

You're off to a great start. Sometimes a great notion becomes a new life.

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

DF. I will always hold you dear to my heart for having this thread. Never abandon it. Except for my couple of transgressions I remain smoke free and strong. I'm afraid I simply can't and won't continue posting here. It is no reflection on your good work here. You are quite possibly the "wisest" I've met. Many have knowledge but few have wisdom. That's you. I am sorry for your ill health but believe in my heart you will get better soon.

I'm off. I'll check in now and then. Also, Mac, i had no idea that in the vernacular of those who routinely use the word FU and FO were different. In this case judging from your post I would say it was a fond FU, done with love.

Stay strong. Don't waiver. Hawke, remember that the two week period was a rough one for some of us. Drink your cranberry juice. Love you CHL. Best to your better half.

Also, here's some advice: when wanting to beat the royal crap out of somebody, particularly the condescending, the sanctimonious, and the ones who think they have the monopoly on sensibilities, just drink camomile tea. It's lovely.

Re: I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

littlemiracles - Seems you took off like a rocket. 50/50 split on the day after receiving the e-cig is pretty damn impressive. Good idea to go outside with the e-cig. Make it as inconvenient as it was to smoke (don't want to simply switch seats on the Titanic).

You're off to a great start. Sometimes a great notion becomes a new life.

Quoting: BxMac

Yes, true about the titanic...I would hate to have the ecig become like a pacifier hanging from my mouth all the time!